High School Basketball

The Mt. Pleasant boys basketball team participated in the Mid-Prairie Jamboree last night as they faced off against Wilton coming out on top 27-24. Aaiden Ashton led the Panthers in points with 8 followed by Payton Hagans and Nate Stroud each scoring 6 points. Their next game will be a road contest against Cedar Rapids Washington at 7:30 pm on Monday, November 28th.

The Mt. Pleasant girls basketball team’s first game of the season is tonight at home against Pella. The game will be broadcast on KILJ with the opening tip set for 7 pm, the pregame show at 6:45 pm. Coach Watson is looking to pull off a tough win and to get off to a good start for the season.

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls basketball team will host Lone Tree tonight at 6 pm and Central Lee will host Mediapolis next Tuesday, November 29th.

The New London girls basketball team looks for their first win tonight as they travel to play Calamus-Wheatland at 6:30 pm.

Elementary Basketball Tournament

Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The women’s basketball team won on Day one of the Our Lady of the Lake Classic 66-43 against Oklahoma City University. It was a close game heading into halftime with the Tigers on top 35-31, then the defense allowed only 12 points in the second half as they cruised to an easy victory. It was Megan Teal coming off the bench that lifted the Tigers as she scored a team leading 17 points and 7 rebounds and collected 3 steals. Maci Kuchta and Kyla Moore each added 13 points and 4 rebounds. They’ll be back in action today at 2 pm for Day two of the Classic against Southwestern Christian College.

.The women’s wrestling team will be back in action December 7th for a top ten matchup as they will host the #3 Grand View University Vikings. The men’s wrestling team’s next match will be Saturday, December 3rd, at the Buena Vista Open starting at 9 am.

The men’s basketball team will be at home tonight to face off against #13 ranked William Penn University as they are riding a 7-game win streak. Admission will be free to the public as the Tigers look to pull off the upset against the Statesman team that is averaging 97 points a game compared to the Tigers 71 points per game.

The football team had 9 players receive North Star Athletic Association All-Conference honors. Major Niccum and Joseph Pace each earned First-Team honors. Niccum averaged over 10 tackles a game, added 7 sacks, and had two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown. Pace had 66 tackles, 13 pass breakups, which was tops in the NSAA, and two interceptions. Tyler Ball and AJ Moses each made the Second-Team All-Conference list. Jakim Brock, Jeremiah Pauling, Moses Eason, and Asaivien McWilliams were all honorable mentions. Lastly, Jaheem Hampton was named the Champion of Character for the Tigers.

This Day in Sports History

1950 – 7,021 saw the Fort Wayne Pistons edge the Minneapolis Lakers, 19-18 at Minneapolis Auditorium; lowest ever NBA score of 37 combined points.

1972 – In Pittsburgh, Penguins set an NHL record for scoring the fastest 5 goals (2:07) in a 10-4 win over St. Louis Blues.

2016 – Vegas Golden Knights’ was revealed as the Las Vegas NHL expansion team’s name.

High School Basketball

The Mt. Pleasant girls basketball team’s first game of the season is tomorrow at home against Pella. The game will be broadcast on KILJ with the opening tip set for 7 pm, the pregame show at 6:45 pm. Coach Watson is looking for his team to play fast paced to get off to a good start for the season.

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls basketball team has gotten off to a quick start in Mendy McCreight’s first year at the helm. In their first game against New London, Bradie Buffington stuffed the stat sheet leading the Wolves in points with 24 adding 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Melina Opepping had a triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 steals on their way to a dominating 54-24 victory. The Wolves then followed it up with a win over Central Lee 57-33. Buffington and Keetyn Townsley each had 15 points with Oepping and Josie Nelson adding 8 points to the effort. Makayla Morrison and Mya Lampe led the scoring for the Hawks with 11 apiece. Winfield-Mt. Union will host Lone Tree tomorrow at 6 pm and Central Lee will host Mediapolis next Tuesday, November 29th.

The New London girls basketball team also played Davis County last weekend falling 70-28. Natalie Burden did most of the scoring, ending with 19 points on the night. They’ll look for their first win tomorrow as they travel to play Calamus-Wheatland at 6:30 pm.

Elementary Basketball Tournament

Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The NAIA held their National Championship run Friday morning with two members for Iowa Wesleyan–one for the men and one for the women–running at the meet. For the men, Logan Lucas, a sophomore, finished in 293rd out of 318 runners with a time of 27 minutes 52 seconds. Lilly Garnsey was the other Tiger that ran as she finished in 310th place, finishing in 21 minutes 23 seconds, her best time of the season. The Tigers also had seven members receive NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Andrew Huhuyana, Marlon Brown, and Ryan Hutchinson for the men with Alyssa Scharlow, Angelynne Blagsvedt, Faith Younce, and Teya Hawkins for the women.

The women’s wrestling team competed at the Missouri Valley Open over the weekend. Alaina Sunlin wrestled for the Tigers in the 101-pound weight class where she finished 3-2 on the weekend, losing her last two matches. Mia Palumbo, ranked 2nd, wrestled in the 109-pound weight class and won by tech fall in her first two matches then by decision in her third. She fell in the semifinals 6-2, but won third place overall after defeating Pauline Grandados by decision, this was the best finish for the Tigers. Faith Cole, Destiny Campbell, and Joanna Vanderwood would each fall in their consolation bracket. The women’s team will be back in action December 7th for a top ten matchup as they will host the #3 Grand View University Vikings.

The men’s basketball team dominated on day 1 of the Cobble Inn and Suites Classic winning by 30 points over Waldorf 77-47. Three members of the Tigers finished with double digit points with Allante Pickens leading the team with 18. Hakeem Odunsi added 16 off the bench and Henry Shannon tallied 14 on the game. On Day 2 it was much of the same as the Tigers extended their winning streak to 7 games after defeating Valley City State University 81-58. Shannon and Pickens continued their dominance as Shannon scored 23 points and collected 7 rebounds while Pickens dropped 16 and dished out 7 assists. Francis Okwuosah and Odunsi each scored double digits off the bench. The Tigers will be at home tomorrow in a big matchup as they face off against #13 ranked William Penn University. Iowa Wesleyan will be doing free admission to the contest as the public is encouraged to come out and show their support.

The women’s basketball team’s next game will be this afternoon against Oklahoma City University at 2 pm to start the Our Lady of the Lake Classic.

This Day in Sports History

1902 – Baseball’s Philadelphia Athletics & Phillies form pro football teams, joining Pitts Stars in the first attempt at a National Football League.

1949 – Bill Veeck sells the Cleveland Baseball team for $22 million, to fund his divorce settlement.

2004 – CFL Grey Cup, Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa: Toronto Argonauts defeat BC Lions, 27-19; first Grey Cup game played on next-generation FieldTurf surface.

High School Football

The WACO Warriors finish in second place in the State of Iowa as they fall to Remsen St. Mary’s 38-16. Isaac Oswald finished with 212 passing yards on the game including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Colton Leichty. Simeon Reichenbach tallied 95 total yards and one rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, he also had a forced fumble defensively. The district defensive MVP, Drew Diers, led the Warriors in tackles with 12.5. The Warriors finished the year with a 13-1 record and Coach Edeker talked about how proud he was of how his team has grown over the years.

In a repeat of last year’s Class A state championship game, Grundy Center enacts revenge on West Hancock and shuts them out to win 27-0 and win their 4th state championship.

For Class 1A, Van Meter dominated West Sioux winning 35-7.

Class 2A saw a defensive battle as Central Lyon/George-Little Rock came out on top over Williamsburg 10-6.

Harlan Community captured the Class 3A state championship for the 14th time in school history as they came back and defeated Mount Vernon 30-23.

For the Class 4A state championship game Xavier was able to edge out Lewis Central 45-38. 

Southeast Polk ran away with the 5A state championship over Valley 49-19.

High School Basketball

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the 2022-2023 preseason Girls Basketball rankings. Last year’s State Champions were Bishop Garrigan (1A), Dike-New Hartford (2A), Estherville Lincoln Central (3A), Xavier (4A), and Johnston (5A). Bishop Garrigan, Dike-New Hartford, and Estherville-Lincoln Central retained their number one ranking; however, the runner-up in Class 4A and 5A took over the top spot with Sioux City Bishop Heelan ranked above Xavier for Class 4A and Waterloo West ranked above Johnston. Other notable rankings were Burlington Notre Dame and Winfield-Mt. Union ranked 14th and 15th, respectively, in Class 1A and North Scott ranked 5th in Class 4A.

Elementary Basketball Tournament

Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The NAIA held their National Championship run Friday morning with two members for Iowa Wesleyan–one for the men and one for the women–running at the meet. For the men, Logan Lucas, a sophomore, finished in 293rd out of 318 runners with a time of 27 minutes 52 seconds. Lilly Garnsey was the other Tiger that ran as she finished in 310th place, finishing in 21 minutes 23 seconds, her best time of the season. The Tigers also had seven members receive NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Andrew Huhuyana, Marlon Brown, and Ryan Hutchinson for the men with Alyssa Scharlow, Angelynne Blagsvedt, Faith Younce, and Teya Hawkins for the women.

The women’s wrestling team competed at the Missouri Valley Open over the weekend. Alaina Sunlin wrestled for the Tigers in the 101-pound weight class where she finished 3-2 on the weekend, losing her last two matches. Mia Palumbo, ranked 2nd, wrestled in the 109-pound weight class and won by tech fall in her first two matches then by decision in her third. She fell in the semifinals 6-2, but won third place overall after defeating Pauline Grandados by decision, this was the best finish for the Tigers. Faith Cole, Destiny Campbell, and Joanna Vanderwood would each fall in their consolation bracket. The women’s team will be back in action December 7th for a top ten matchup as they will host the #3 Grand View University Vikings.

The men’s basketball team dominated on day 1 of the Cobble Inn and Suites Classic winning by 30 points over Waldorf 77-47. Three members of the Tigers finished with double digit points with Allante Pickens leading the team with 18. Hakeem Odunsi added 16 off the bench and Henry Shannon tallied 14 on the game. On Day 2 it was much of the same as the Tigers extended their winning streak to 7 games after defeating Valley City State University 81-58. Shannon and Pickens continued their dominance as Shannon scored 23 points and collected 7 rebounds while Pickens dropped 16 and dished out 7 assists. Francis Okwuosah and Odunsi each scored double digits off the bench. The Tigers will be at home November 22nd to face off against #13 ranked William Penn University.  

The women’s basketball team’s next game will be Monday, November 21st, against Oklahoma City University at 2 pm to start the Our Lady of the Lake Classic.

This Day in Sports History

1902 – Geo Lefevre and Henri Desgrange create the Tour de France bicycle race.

1969 – Brazilian soccer icon Pele scores his 1,000th goal.

1988 – Boston College beats Army 38-24 in the ‘Emerald isle Classic’ at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road Stadium, the first NCAA American Football game to be played in Europe.